Power Outages Affect Thousands in Northern British Columbia
Strong winds have knocked out power for approximately 14,000 customers in northern British Columbia. The outages are primarily due to heavy winds damaging power lines, affecting several communities along B.C. Highway 16, 37, and 37 A.
Communities impacted by the outage include Terrace, Burns Lake, Hazelton, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers, and Stewart. Crews are currently working to restore power; however, ongoing winds could hinder repair efforts.
Wind warnings are in effect for areas such as the Chilcotin region and parts of northern B.C., with gusts reported to be close to 90 kilometres per hour. There is potential for these gusts to strengthen to 100 km/h, raising concerns about further damage and prolonged outages.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued several wind and rainfall alerts across parts of the province, highlighting the severity of the weather conditions contributing to the outages.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact timeline for power restoration, as the situation continues to develop. Residents are advised to stay updated through local news and BC Hydro’s official channels for the latest information on the outages and restoration efforts.
